1. General information
2. VTS coverage areas
3. VTS services terms and conditions
4. Statistics
5. Contacts
1. General information
The FSUE “Rosmorport” Arkhangelsk Branch renders navigational services using port Vessel Traffic System in the seaport of Arkhangelsk (the Arkhangelsk VTS) to vessels (except for small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships) calling at Arkhangelsk Seaport or passing through its water area.
Small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships, located in the coverage area of Arkhangelsk VTS, can be provided with assistance in navigation only, upon their request and within technical limits of the VTS equipment.
The Sabetta vessel tracking management system was built in the seaport of Sabetta in 2017. At present, it functions in trial mode before it receives examination by Rosmorrechflot for its compliance with the performance specifications approved by Russia’s Transport Ministry Order No. 226 of July 23, 2015 and IMO Resolution А.1158(32).
The Arkhangelsk VTS meets all current requirements and functions to increase the navigation safety level, shipping efficiency, safety of life at sea, marine environment protection, and seacoast safeguard within the seaport’s water area and at its approaches.
The Arkhangelsk Branch, using the VTS, implements:
- transmission of navigation, meteorological, current and other information;
- arrangement and regulation of navigation on the basis of navigation operations everyday schedule, approved by Arkhangelsk Seaport Master;
- navigation assistance by the vessel master’s request or by the VTS operator’s decision;
- control over the navigation.
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The Arkhangelsk VTS includes: VTS Centre (Economia) and four radar posts: VTS site-1 (Economia), VTS site-2 (Mudyug), VTS site-3 (Talagi) and VTS site-4 (NSC).
According to the results of certification procedure the Arkhangelsk Branch received Rosmorrechflot certificate dated 23.10.2020 № VTS-3/1-3191-2020 on the compliance of the Arkhangelsk VTS with the technical and operational requirements established by order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia dated July 23, 2015 No. 226 and IMO А.1158(32) Resolution presented to the VTS of the highest category.
The Arkhangelsk Port VTS functions on a round-o-clock basis.
The VTS operating personnel consists of 10 professionals certificated in accordance with the IALA V-103 Recommendations.
2. VTS coverage areas
Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area

In the Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area, reliable detection, determination of coordinates and auto tracking of vessels most typical for the area of navigation (steel vessels of 80 meters or more in length with an effective reflective surface of about 300 square meters, with visibility of 0.5 nautical miles, rainfall intensity of 60 mm / h and sea force 5) is performed, and reliable VHF radio communication with vessels and radar control are ensured. Operating area of coastal stations of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) totally covers the Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area.
Sabetta VTS coverage area
The description of the Sabetta VTS coverage area will be established upon examination for its compliance with the performance specifications approved by Russia’s Transport Ministry Order No. 226 of July 23, 2015 and IMO Resolution А.1158(32).
3. VTS services terms and conditions
Arkhangelsk VTS services terms and conditions
Navigation services using in the Arkhangelsk VTS are provided by the branch for vessels (except for small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships) in accordance with the requirements of IMO Resolution А.1158(32), Common Rules of Navigation and Mooring of Vessels in the Seaports of the Russian Federation and Their Approaches approved by the Ministry of Transport order No. 395 dated 12.11.2021 and Compulsory regulations in the seaport of Arkhangelsk, approved by the Ministry of Transport Order No. 183 dated 09.06.2014 (hereinafter – the Compulsory regulations).
For small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships, Arkhangelsk VTS provides assistance in navigation upon their request within its technical limits.
All ships and vessels located in the Arkhangelsk VTS area, regardless of their department belonging and form of property, are obliged to implement the requirements to the navigation in the Arkhangelsk VTS area.
In the seaport of Arkhangelsk VTS permissive order of vessel traffic is established.
Vessels heading for the seaport of Arkhangelsk from the sea must establish connection with the Arkhangelsk VTS two nautical miles before approaching the Arkhangelsk seaport water area border.
Vessels heading for the seaport of Arkhangelsk from inland water ways must establish connection with the Arkhangelsk VTS two kilometers before approaching the Arkhangelsk seaport water area southern border.
To enter the Arkhangelsk VTS water area, vessels must report:
- number assigned by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to vessel;
- type, name of the vessel;
- vessel number assigned by the maritime mobile service;
- country of the ship's flag;
- port of destination;
- maximum draft of vessel;
- type and amount of cargo, class of hazard if available;
- number of crew members and passengers;
- presence of technical faults and other limitations which influence navigation safety.
Vessels traffic in the seaport of Arkhangelsk water area and operations on vessels anchoring and their unanchoring are regulated in accordance with traffic schedule and plan of positioning of vessels in the seaport of Arkhangelsk, which is daily approved by the seaport of Arkhangelsk Master. Before the start of movement, a vessel must request permission from the seaport of Arkhangelsk VTS for the start of movement.
Regulation of vessel navigation in seaport of Arkhangelsk water area is carried out by seaports of Arkhangelsk VTS by transferring to the ships recommendations related to:
- order and starting time of movement;
- route, interval and speed;
- order of passing fairways and their crossings;
- prohibition of further movement;
- anchorage or shelter places;
- actions for prevention of immediate danger.
Vessels proceeding to the seaport water areas from “Mudyugsky No. 1” light buoy to the Talaga oil base or towards the Arkhangelsk seaport water area southern border and backwards inform the Arkhangelsk VTS on their time of passage of the following control points of the seaport of Arkhangelsk:
- “Mudyugsky No. 1” floating light;
- Mudyug towers rear range parallel (in the period of icebreaking escort of vessels);
- Lebedinsky light parallel;
- Perekhodny rear range parallel (Chizhovsky road);
- Economsky lighted buoy;
- “Arkhangelsk-radio-5” and “Arkhangelsk-radio-17” responsibility areas border crossing points;
- mouth of the Povrakulka ducts (Hydrolysis plant);
- Amosovsky and Korabelny range markers crossing points;
- Moseev island;
- Kegostrovsky buoy (only when proceeding to the Nikolsky arm or from the Nikolsky arm);
- railway and road bridges;
- on forced anchoring on or near fairway, indicating the place coordinates;
- on approaching the mooring or anchorage place;
- on completion of mooring, anchoring or unanchoring.
During icebreaker escort of vessels in the seaport of Arkhangelsk, vessels proceeding to the seaport water area from “Mudyugsky No. 1” floating light to the oil base of Talaga or towards the Arkhangelsk seaport water area southern border additionally report:
- on the vessel being stuck in ice, indicating the place coordinates;
- on passage of ice pedestrian and vehicle crossings.
After receiving information from the vessel that the mooring has started, Arkhangelsk VTS stops monitoring the vessel’s traffic.
Transmission of navigational, meteorological, current and other information to vessels is carried out by the Arkhangelsk VTS in accordance with the announced schedule, under request of the vessel, seaport of Arkhangelsk Master order or at the initiative of Arkhangelsk VTS, in cases, when changes in the navigational situation can emerge or are planned as well as other factors influencing or potentially influencing the navigation safety in the seaport of Astrakhan VTS coverage area. Transmission of the critical information can performed by general announcement.
Compulsory escort of vessel with the use of Arkhangelsk VTS, as well as assistance rendering in navigation, are carried out in the seaport of Arkhangelsk water area within borders form point with coordinates 65°01,4'N 40°10,2'Е along the arc of a circle drawn with radius of 5 miles from points installation of Mudyugsky No. 1” lighted buoy to the point with coordinates 65°52,5'N 40°00,0'Е, then along the line passing through the following points:
No. 1 64°45,7'N 40°22,0'Е;
No. 2 64°45,9'N 40°26,8'Е,
then along the coastal line of the left bank of the Maimaksa river to the parallel passing through the Economsky lighted range front range marker, then along the parallel with the transition to the right bank of the Maimaksa river and then along it to the left bank of the Kuznechikha river to the parallel passing through the upper end of berth No. 17 of the oil base of OAO NK “Rosneft-Arkhanhelskneftproduct” with transition to the right bank of the Kuznechikha river and along its right bank to its mouth, then north along the right bank of the Maimaksa river, along the western bank of the Muravoy and Lebedin islands with the transition to the Yuzhny Cape of the Mudyugsky Island and then along the western coast of the Mudyugsky island and Golaya Koshka Cape to the southern end of the nameless spit of the Zimny shore of the Dvina Bay and along its western shore to the starting point with coordinates 65°01,4'N 40°10,2'Е.
In the rest part of the seaport of Arkhangelsk the Arkhangelsk VTS provides information and traffic organization services only with the use of the Automatic Identification System and VHF radio communication based on motion graphics and placement of vessels, approved by the seaport of Arkhangelsk Master.
The Arkhangelsk VTS ensures tolerance of uncertainty of target autotracking within the range of values specified in the attached table when rendering assistance in navigation.
The procedure for providing assistance in navigation, including the communications interval, is agreed by Arkhangelsk VTS and the vessel using communication means. The vessel is notified by Arkhangelsk VTS about the start and end of assistance in navigation, confirms the receipt of information and recommendations from Arkhangelsk VTS and informs Arkhangelsk VTS about the actions being taken.The way to control the vessel while following the recommendations and instructions of Arkhangelsk VTS is chosen by the captain of the vessel. If the captain finds it impossible to comply with Arkhangelsk VTS instructions, he must report to the operator of Arkhangelsk VTS using the means of communication and inform him about his further actions and intentions.
A vessel that has anchored, started or completed mooring to a berth in the seaport of Arkhangelsk, started moving after unmooring or leaving the berth, should inform Arkhangelsk VTS about it.
Permission to move when unmooring or leaving the berth should be requested by the vessel from Arkhangelsk VTS 15 minutes before the start of movement.
The main means of communication between the Arkhangelsk VTS and vessels in the seaport of Arkhangelsk is radio telephone communication in the VHF band of the maritime mobile service.
Communication between the Arkhangelsk VTS and vessels in the seaport of Arkhangelsk is carried out on VHF channel 14 (channel of control, call and communication with vessels during their movement), VHF channel 69 (channel for connection with vessels when assisting in navigation), call sign “Arkhangelsk-Radio-17”.
Vessels traffic control in the seaport of Arkhangelsk water area, which is carried out by the seaport of Arkhangelsk Master, is performed on VHF channels 14 and 16, call sign “Arkhangelsk-Radio-5”.
A vessel leaving Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area must inform Arkhangelsk VTS and request permission to end the radio watch on VHF working channel 14, call sign “Arkhangelsk -Radio-17”.
VHF radio channels and radiotelephone call sign of requesters, used to ensure the safety of navigation in the Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area
Communicant |
VHF communication channels |
Call sign |
|
calling channel |
working channel |
||
Vessel traffic control post of the Arkhangelsk Branch of the FSBI of “Western Arctic Seaport Administration” |
16 |
14 |
Arkhangelsk-Radio-5 |
Vessel traffic service |
16 |
14, 69 |
Arkhangelsk -Radio-17 |
Maintaining of radio communications not related to safety of navigation on VHF channels 14, 16, 69 in the seaport of Arkhangelsk is not allowed.
Vessels under way, as well as standing on roads and at seaport berths shall maintain a continuous radio watch on VHF channels 14 and 16.
Vessels staying at berth are prohibited:
a) to switch on vessel radio location station in the operating mode;
b) to switch off the vessel automated identification system.
During mooring operations, vessels moored with tug support shall switch to the VHF operating communication channel available on the tug, informing the Arkhangelsk VTS about it. After the end of operation, vessels shall switch to the VHF operating communication channel, informing the Arkhangelsk VTS about it.
Radio communications between the Arkhangelsk VTS operator and vessels must be carried out in accordance with “Rules of radio communication of maritime mobile service and the maritime mobile satellite service of the Russian Federation”, and the message format should, where possible, meet the IMO Resolution A.851 (20) “General Principles for Ship Reporting Systems and Ship Reporting Requirements”. For radio communications with the crews of foreign vessels, English language is used in terms of “IMO's Standard Marine Communication Phrases”.
The VTS services provided for vessels calling at the seaport of Arkhangelsk or passing through its water area en route are charged by navigation dues. The information about navigation dues and their collection can be found in subsection “The Arkhangelsk Branch Harbour Dues and Tariffs”.
Sabetta VTS services terms and conditions
Navigation services using Sabetta VTS before making its examination for its compliance with the performance specifications approved by Russia’s Transport Ministry Order No. 226 of July 23, 2015 and IMO Resolution А.1158(32) are not rendered.
4. Statistics
Amount of vessels in the Arkhangelsk VTS area having called at the seaport of Arkhangelsk or having passed through its water area en route
Year |
Total amount of vesselы in the VTS coverage area |
Including vessels that entered the seaport of Arkhangelsk |
Including vessels that passed via the seaport’s water area en route |
2007 | 11,535 | 1,363 | – |
2008 | 9,169 | 1,241 | – |
2009 | 7,271 | 1,058 | – |
2010 | 8,158 | 1,058 | – |
2011 | 8,157 | 1,120 | – |
2012 | 8,739 | 1,233 | – |
2013 | 9,131 | 1,189 | – |
2014 | 11,802 | 1,117 | – |
2015 | 21,008 | 1,429 | – |
2016 | 23,698 | 1,743 | – |
2017 | 22,558 | 1,798 | – |
2018 | 22,940 | 1,975 | – |
2019 | 23,840 | 2,104 | – |
2020 | 26,017 | 2,225 | – |
2021 | 26,942 | 2,389 | – |
2022 | 28,517 | 3,447 |
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5. Contacts
For any additional reference information about the VTS services provided by the Arkhangelsk Branch with the use of VTS, please contact:
in the seaport of Arkhangelsk
by telephone (round-the-clock):
+7 (8182) 67-10-18;
+7 (931) 413-16-20,
or send a request by fax +7 (8182) 65-07-69 or by e-mail: suds@arhrmp.ru
in the seaport of Sabetta
by telephone (round-the-clock)
+7 (921) 293-95-15
or send a request by fax +7 (8182) 65-07-69 or by e-mail SabettaVTS@ark.rosmorport.ru